Catherine Beaton has been at the De Pree Center since 2006. She has served as the Assistant Director and now holds the dual roles of Director of Operations and Creative Director.

Cathy grew up in Hawaii where she attended Punahou Academy. Spending her early years in Hawaii exposed her to a variety of people and cultures and shaped her desire to understand other ways of doing and being. Her interest led her to Stanford University, where she studied East Asian history and received a B.A. in Japanese Language. A year abroad at Keio University in Tokyo allowed her to deepen her cultural understanding and adaptability.

After graduation, Cathy returned to Asia where she worked in the non-profit world in Hong Kong for five years and participated in and led diverse, international teams. Various responsibilities included event-planning, hospitality, leadership, training and community outreach.

Always eager to learn and explore new things, Cathy and her husband decided after several years back in North America to venture to the other side of the globe where they lived in the UK and Germany. Involved in education at this time, she considers teaching at Pembroke College at the University of Cambridge a highlight. She also welcomed the proximity of Europe and the opportunity for extensive travel. Through broad exposure to museums, galleries and architecture, she discovered and fostered a growing appreciation of design.

After design classes in London, she continued at the Art Center College of Design in Pasadena. She loves environmental design, graphic and web design, and landscape architecture, and enjoys the expansiveness of creativity combined with the opportunity to utilize the critical skills necessary to problem-solving and the development of a successful project.

Cathy enjoys sunshine and the outdoors, especially sailing and scuba-diving, hiking, and gardening. Museums and galleries continue to hold her interest and she has yet to tire of international travel and experiences.